Latest WFDF Communiques

The World Flying Disc Federation (WFDF), in cooperation with the Professional Disc Golf Association (PDGA), is releasing the world rankings for disc golf by country for the first time. World Rankings are expected to become an increasingly important tool in deciding on the inclusion of countries in multi-game sports formats in the future, as events sanctioned by the International World Games Association, World Masters Games and International Olympic Committee demand a critical and objective means for selecting teams. The WFDF Disc Golf Committee worked extensively with the PDGA in developing the ratings system.

The World Flying Disc Federation (WFDF), in cooperation with the Professional Disc Golf Association (PDGA), is releasing the world rankings for disc golf by country for the first time. World Rankings are expected to become an increasingly important tool in deciding on the inclusion of countries in multi-game sports formats in the future, as events sanctioned by the International World Games Association, World Masters Games and International Olympic Committee demand a critical and objective means for selecting teams. The WFDF Disc Golf Committee worked extensively with the PDGA in developing the ratings system.

The World Flying Disc Federation today released the updated World Ultimate Rankings. These world country rankings are based on the finishing positions of teams at the most recent major World Ultimate Events:
• World Ultimate Club Championships (2014)
• World Junior Ultimate Championships (2016)
• World Ultimate and Guts Championships (2016)
• World Championship of Beach Ultimate/World Great Grandmasters Beach Ultimate Championships (2017)
• World Under 24 Championships (2018)

The World Flying Disc Federation (“WFDF”) is pleased to announce that its Congress has approved the Flying Disc Association of the Islamic Republic of Iran (FDAI) as its newest Member association, increasing WFDF’s membership to 77 national member associations.
“We wholeheartedly welcome FDAI to the WFDF Flying Disc family as a new member from the Persian Gulf region,” commented WFDF President Robert “Nob” Rauch. “We are pleased to expand our membership within the growing MENA region for disc sports, and we continue to work with several additional candidates from the region, acknowledging the importance of the sporting activities there. The Islamic Republic of Iran has a tremendous sporting culture and history and it is an important milestone to add Flying Disc sports to the portfolio of sports recognized in that country.”

The United States’ teams swept the WFDF World Under 24 Ultimate Championships (WU24), winning gold in the Women’s, Men’s and Mixed divisions at the week-long event, which wrapped up in Perth on January 13. New Zealand added to its impressive streak of Spirit awards by winning top honors in the Spirit category in all three divisions. WU24 was the first WFDF World Championship event held in Australia since 2006 and welcomed 41 teams from 20 countries. More than 900 athletes were joined by 200 supporters, more than 100 volunteers, and 20 senior staff at the facilities at the UWA Sports Park in Western Australia.

The World Flying Disc Federation (WFDF) has announced the results of its 2017 elections. The WFDF Member Associations voted on open positions on the Board of Directors and on the Ultimate Committee to serve from 1 January 2018 to 31 December 2019.

“WFDF is fortunate to be able to rely on a Board comprised of individuals with significant experience and varied expertise in order to respond to the opportunities and challenges we face as a fast-growing international sports federation,” commented WFDF President Robert “Nob” Rauch. “We are pleased to have increased the number of women on the Board to five out of the fourteen members. I would like to thank outgoing Board member Michael Hu for his tremendous support during many years of service as a board member and in his ongoing work in Chinese Taipei and in the Asian region, and to also acknowledge outgoing Events Sub-Committee chair Elizabeth Houthrow for her contributions during her tenure. We also thank Rena Kawabata and Wolfgang Maehr for their interest in supporting WFDF at the top governance level.”

The World Flying Disc Federation is pleased to announce that it has reached an exclusive agreement with Universe Point as its Official Footwear Supplier. The global partnership agreement will run for two years beginning in January 2018 and the company will be granted exclusive sales rights at WFDF sanctioned Ultimate events in 2018 and 2019.
“We are delighted to welcome Universe Point into our family of official sponsors and suppliers,” said WFDF President Robert “Nob” Rauch. “They identified the marketplace need for Ultimate cleats designed by and for Ultimate athletes. Their footwear is winning acclaim at every level of our sport and we are committed to helping them grow their business as we grow Ultimate and all Flying Disc sports.”

The World Flying Disc Federation is seeking bids for host organizers for the WFDF 2019 World Team Disc Golf Championships (“WTDGC”). The WTDGC is the premier Disc Golf event for WFDF and the 2019 edition of the event will look to build on the success of past championships held in Colchester, UK and Vancouver, Canada. Hosting the WTDGC is a chance to introduce an international sporting event to new communities, draw interest and attention to a host city and country, and generate economic impact for local businesses, while developing the sport globally. Bids are due by February 14, 2018.

The World Flying Disc Federation (“WFDF”) is pleased to announce that its Congress has approved the Palestine Flying Disc Association (PFDA) as its newest Member association, increasing WFDF’s membership to 76 national member associations.
“We welcome PFDA to the WFDF flying disc family after a long and thorough admission process conducted by the WFDF Board and members of the WFDF Sport for All / Development Commission,” commented WFDF President Robert “Nob” Rauch.

As part of its continuing efforts to promote gender equality in disc sports, the World Flying Disc Federation announces that it has added new members to its Women in Sport Commission and appointed Caz Malone of Hong Kong as chair. Ms. Malone replaces outgoing chair Kate Bergeron, currently WFDF Treasurer, who had served as chair since 2011.

The Commission is now comprised of 14 women from all over the world, who are already stakeholders in their communities and are committed to engaging athletes, coaches, managers and organizers involved in the sport.